I was the victim of a car insurance scam when a woman reversed into me while I was parked, then claimed I had driven into her. She is claiming damages for personal injury, notwithstanding the fact the accident happened at 3mph, as borne out by photographs of the damage. I told my insurer Admiral I thought it was a scam, but without properly investigating they insist we share liability. AD, East Horsely, Surrey

The trouble in your case is that there were no independent witnesses. Admiral tells me that although it referred your case to its fraud department, with no evidence to back up the allegation it has no choice but to declare both parties liable. According to the Association of British Insurers, it is often cheaper for insurers to settle claims for whiplash – a notoriously difficult condition to diagnose – than to incur legal costs in fighting it. The result is a surge in spurious claims: while road accidents have decreased by 20% since 2006, whiplash claims are up 40%, which has pushed up premiums. The government wants to tighten up whiplash diagnosis and cut high legal costs that deter insurers from fighting spurious claims.

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